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Is Rams Matthew Stafford NFL's Most Clutch QB?

NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager ranked Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as the second-most-clutch signal-caller in the league, and then doubled down on it

Jon Alfano

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has come up big in the biggest moments throughout his career. The 35-year-old has 42 career game-winning drives, eighth-most all-time and most among active quarterbacks (not counting Matt Ryan, who is currently unsigned and just joined CBS as an analyst).

So when NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager ranked his top five clutch quarterbacks, it wasn't surprising to see Stafford at No. 2 on the list.

"Time and time again Stafford has played hurt, he has played in big moments and he has gotten the job done," Schrager said on Good Morning Football on Monday. "Of all the active quarterbacks in the entire NFL right now, Matthew Stafford is first in fourth-quarter comebacks."

Schrager only placed one quarterback ahead of Rodgers, that being Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills round out Schrager's top five behind Stafford. 

Despite Stafford's man heroics over the years, many viewers criticized Schrager for ranking him so highly. Instead of backing down from the criticism, though, Schrager doubled down and even suggested that he should've ranked the Rams star higher.

"I might've made the mistake that I didn't put Matthew Stafford No. 1 on this list," Schrager said Tuesday. "Matthew Stafford, PFF grade in the fourth quarter since 2019 is 92. That is far and away the best of all quarterbacks. Yes, Matthew Stafford belongs on this list of top five clutch quarterbacks."

In just his first season with the Rams in 2021, L.A. fans saw just how clutch Stafford can be. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stormed back to tie the game in the Divisional Round, Stafford found star receiver Cooper Kupp for two huge plays to set up the game-winning field goal. He then led another game-winning drive against the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, finding Kupp for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:25 remaining. 

After a rough 2022 season, some more clutch performances by Stafford would definitely help the Rams rebound in 2023.

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Jon Alfano
JON ALFANO

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